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Venture into Vocabulary!

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Words are the tools we use to think, to express our ideas, and to learn about the world around us. Words are therefore the very foundation of learning.  We, as educators and parents need to "venture into vocabulary" to help teach our children new words each and every day!  
The average student learns about 3,000 new vocabulary words a year, which is about six to eight words per day! The more words we introduce to our children, the better.  But it's not just defining a word from a dictionary that does the trick.  We need to model new words for children many times, use them as adults when speaking, describe the words, think of connections for these words.  This way, children can see the many, wonderful facets of words and begin to expand their own vocabularies.  
Below are some words that we have introduced this year during my first grade reading groups.  I encourage you to continue talking about these words at home.  See if your children remember these stories and the vocabulary words in them.   
Have fun on your venture with vocabulary and check back often for new books and words!

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Doctor DeSoto by William Steig
Gause
A tasty morsel
To be hoisted
To be dainty
To quiver
To refuse
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Arthur's Thanksgiving by Marc Brown
A script
A rehearsal
An auditorium
To grumble
To rejoice
To recite
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Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
A Synagogue
A menorah
A dreidel
To be greedy
To triumph
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Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg
Trouble maker
Peace maker
A faucet
Styling gel
A twin
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The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
An ox
A shawl
A kettle
To shear
To carve
Whittling
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The Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda
An evergreen
A manger
A nutcracker
A poinsettia
A village
The Yule log
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Fox's Dream by Tejima
A vixen
A hare
To wander
To nuzzle
To glisten
To nestle
To be frosty
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Mole Music by David McPhail
A violin
A bow
Screeching
An audience
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The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
A trout
A crocus
A trapeze
A tightrope
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Daisy Comes Home by Jan Brett
To roost
To be plump
To be bobbing
A cormorant
"Dawn broke."
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Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
A reptile
A boa constrictor
To be peculiar
To be astonished
To be faithful
To be heroic
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The Littlest Leaguer by Syd Hoff
A league
The infield and the outfield
To curve
To crouch
The umpire
The opposing team
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Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey
To can, canning
To hustle
To gasp
Tramping along
A partridge
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Humphrey the Lost Whale by Wendy Tokuda & Richard Hall
To be magnificent
Shallow and narrow
To be relieved
To be flustered
To become lodged
An ordeal
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The Napping House by Audrey Wood
A Granny
To snore
To doze
To snooze
To slumber
To be wakeful

Last Modified: May 19, 2010